The popular Japanese brand, known for affordable basics in a vast color palette, will debut in a temporary store in the space formerly occupied by Todd English’s Kingfish Hall restaurant. Uniqlo, pronounced “YOU-nee-klo,” is often described as the Japanese version of Gap.

Uniqlo will add six other permanent locations in the region over the next year. Stores at the Natick Mall, The Mall at Chestnut Hill, Northshore Mall in Peabody, and Legacy Place in Dedham will open in late summer and fall. A permanent store in Faneuil Hall’s Quincy Market and another at 341 Newbury St. debut next spring.

The brand operates more than 1,400 stores worldwide.

The Boston expansion is part of an aggressive plan to open more US stores. Uniqlo currently has 21 stores and plans to add another 18 before the end of 2014.

Fast Retailing, the parent company, aims for 100 Uniqlo stores in the United States over the next few years and dramatically higher US sales by 2020.

Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest retail apparel companies, with global sales of $11.6 billion in 2013.